Method of treating fibrous materials.



E. D. JEFFERSON.

METHOD or TREATING FlsRous MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED }AN.I3,19|5.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. D. JEFFERSON.

METHOD 0F TREATN'G FIBROUS MATERIALS.

APPLlcAnoN FILED JAN. 13. |915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. D. JEFFERSON.

METHOD 0F TREATIN'G FIBROUS MATERIALS. APPLICATION F1150 11111.13, 1915.

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EUGENE D JEFFERSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD 0F TREATING FBROUS MATERIALS.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, llroiixn D. JEFFER- soN, a citizen ot' the United States, residingat Boston, in the county ot Suitolk fand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements i1; Methods of Treating Fibrous Materials; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full7 clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usc the same. I

The present invention relates to a method of treating fibrous materials. and more particularly to an alkaline treatment ot' fibrous materials.

lVhile the method of the present invention may be en'iployed in other industries, it is particularly applicable to the treatment ot' fibrous materials used in paper making. The fibrous materials. such as the chopped rags and the like which are used for making paper, are repeatedly and successively7 subjected toa boiling alkaline liquorand to steam. The chemical reaetioudue to the successive and repeated action ot' the heated liquor and steam upon the materials causes the materials` to be softened vand whitened, and in the case of colored materials causes the color to be discharged, more rapidly and completely than by the methods now in' use. The treatment also saponities any oils present in the materials aud eliminates foreign materials such as the motes and hulls of cotton libel'.

The invention relates to certain other features which are particularly pointed outrv in the claims. the advantages of which will be apparent to those skilled in =this art from the following description. ,The method of the present invention is disclosed but not claimed in my copending application. Serial No. 671,226,1vhich issue-d on Februaiw7 16, 1915, as Letters Patent No. 1,128,451.

In the drawings which illustratethe preferred apparatus used in practising the present method, Figure 1 is a central .vertical -section'through the boiling tank, Fig. 2 is an end view withl part ofthe end closure-ofl the tank broken away; Fig.' 3 is a section on the line 3-.3 of Fig. 1;; and Figs. 4 and `5 illustrate a modification of the apparatus, eFig. 4 being a view partly in vertical sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

`movable closure 30.`

'readily' removed.

tion, and Fig.A 5 being a section along the Patented Aug. 1,1916.

Application led January 13, 1915. Serial No. 1,959.

tion with the description ofthe illustrated apparatus.

The illustrated apparatus is described as follows: The tank or vessel 1 is an air-tight horizontally disposed 'cylindrical drum which. is supported on standards 2. W'ithin the tank is a cylindricalrotary cage or hollow drum 3 in which the materials to be treated are packed. The cage 3 is made of sheet iron provided with a large number of 'perforations f1, so that the liquor has free access to the contents of the cage. The'cage e 3 is rotatably supported by means of ashaft 5. The shaft isjournaled in bearings 6 and 7 at the ends of the-tank. yBeyondthe-bearling 7 is a stuing boX 8,' which forms'atight joint about the shaftl so that itfmay bero tat-ed. The shaft 5 is slowly rotated by means of a gear 9 whichis driven from a worm 10. The shaft 5 is hollow and is pro-4 vided with a number of perforations'l by means ot which rinslngwater may fbein- 4troduced linto the center of the. cage 3.V A

union 16 provides a rotatable jointbetween the end of the shaft 5 and the water pipe 17. The cage 3` is provided-on one side with a 4manhole Q0 covered with a removable clo sure Q1. Opposite the manhole 20 atthe top of the tank 1 is a manhole 22, wliiclris covl ered with a removable closure 23. v'The closure 231s clamped Vdown tov make a. steam tightl cover. The materials' are put into the cage S'through the manholes-20 and'QZ.

One, end of the tank 1 -is provided with a removable end closure or. doorv'Q` which' is supported by a spider which-comprises three arms 32, the inner ends of which are'threaded in a h11b`33 mounted on the shaft 5 and the outer endsof which are riveted to thev cylindrical portiono'f the cage 3. The end closure 30 tits against the spider arms 32' Thev The end of the cage' isI and is held in place by means of tour retaining rods 35. The outer ends ot the rods 35 tit through holes 3G in a collar 37 which is secured to the end ot' the cage 3 and which projects beyond the closure 30. The inner ends of the rods 35 are secured tothe hub 33 b v means ot' thumb screws 33.

In order to support the free end of the cage 3 when the end shaft bearing 6 is removed upon opening the door 25, two supporting rolls -10 are provided. The rolls i() are mounted on a bracket 4:1. which is secured at the top of the end frame i2. of the tank 1. The rolls 40 project inside of the collar 37, so that when the door 25 is opened, the rolls 4() support the weight of the cage. During the normal operation of the apparatus when the door 25 is closed, the bearing G supports the Weightof the cage,y there being littleclearan'ce between the inside of VVthe collar 37 and the rolls 40. Two rollers 43 on the inside of the end frame of the tank-engage the outside of the collar 37 and prevent the cage 3 from striking the sides ot the tank. The end closures 25 and 30 are provided to give a large opening through .which the materials may be quickly emptied from the cage.

The lower part of the tank 1 is provided with a steam jacket for the purpose of boilingr the liquor in the tank. The steam is admitted to the steam jacket through the .pipe 51. The pipe-51 is provided with a reducing or throttling valve 52,` which has an actuating connection through the pipe 53 to the inside of the tank 1. valve 52 is of a well known construction and neednot be described in detail. The valve is set so that when the steam pressure in the tank 1 rises to thirty pounds, the pressure in the tank 1 is communicated to the valve 52 through the actuator pipe 53 and causes it to throttle the steam. The reducing valve 52 is set so that the steam is admitted to the steam jacket l50 at such a rate as to maintain a pressure of about thirty pounds to the squareinch in the tank 1 due to the boiling of the liquor therein. Connected to the pipe 53 is any automatic vent 5,4, which is of a well known construction. The purpose of the vent is to allow the-air to escape from the' tank when the liquor is boiled but to prevent the escape of the steam. The vent 54 is preferably set so that when the pressure in the tank is less than one-half pound to the square inch the vent is open, and when the pressure in the tank exceeds one-half pound to the square inch the vent is automatically closed.l This permits the air to be driven out of the tank and at the same time prevents any appreciable amount ,0f steam from escaping when the tank liquor is heated to a boil. The vent 51 is small enough so that a one-half pound steam pressure can be built up in the tank to close the open vent The reducing `cage 3.

when the boiling has begun. The drip water from the stealn jacket 50 runs away through the drip pipe A safety valve 56 is provided as a` precaution against accidentally excessive pressures in the tank.

A pipe connection 60 is provided at the bottom of the tank and serves for the introduction ot' the liquor into the tank and for the drawing ott of the liquor and the nal drawing oiil of the rinsing water. 'n overiiow pipe 61 is provided t'or the overtiow ot' rinsing water during the rinsing ot the materials. It is to be understood. ot' course, that'the pipes 17, (30 and 61 are provided with suitable valves (not shown).

A plate or partition extends between the shaft 5 and the inside ot' the cage Il. and extends the full length of the drum. The. purpose of the plate 70 is to prevent the materials from sliding around in the cage Il lwhen it is rotated. Thus the charge' ot material is rotated with the cage andthe materials are carried up and down in the tank.

The method is carried out as followsz" The cage `3 is packed t'ull ot' the materials to be treated and the manhole closures 2l and are clamped in place. The tank l is filled about one-halt t'ull with the alkaline treating liquor. This liquor usually contains about #1% of slaked lime and 1C.' ot' soda ash. The cage 3 is then set slowly rotating. The cage rotates once about every fire minutes. The steam is admitted through the pipe 5l to the steam jacket 50 for the purpose oi boiling the liquor. As the liquor commences t0 boil, the steam generated from the liquor drives out the air from the tank l and then automatically closes the vent 5i. The steam i pressure in the tank 1 rises to about thirty pounds per square inch and is maintained for about fiveor six hours during which the cage 3 is continuously rotated.

The materials in the cage 3 are successively and repeatedly immersed in the boiling liquor in the bottom ot' the tank and i then subjected to the steam in the top oi' the tank. The cage 3 rotates slowlyv enough so that the steam has time to penetrate the goods in the then uppermost part ot' the The steam in the top ot' the tank is generated from the boiling of the alkaline liquor and apparently contains some ot` the alkaline liquor entrained in veryfinely divided condition. This steam with entrained alkali will be hereinafter termed alkali fumes"7 for the purpose of convenience. The successive and repeated action of the boiling alkaline liquor and the alkali fume causes a remarkable chemical reaction upon the materials, particularly in discharging the color and bleaching them. This is believed to be due to the presence in the steam of the finely divided entrained particles otl alkali. The presence of alkali in the steam is indicated by the character of the steam'. The

ist

. steam escaping into the -air even in small repeated action of the boiling alkaline liquor Y and the alkali fume is not perfectly understood, its operation is very efficient in vdischarging and whitening the materials. The

successive and repeated immersions of the goods in the boiling liquor with the consequent draining gi-ves an effective washing action. It will be 'seen that the cagev inl y which'the goods are held is spaced apart from the tank. T his'space between the cage and the tank serves as a depository for dirt', gravel, precipitates from the chemical reactions, undissolved alkalies, etc. The cage is -rotated so slowly that thisforeign material is not stirred up much and', consequently, is notbrought back into contact with the goods after it has been once deposited. The boiling of the goods vunder pressure, therefore, serves not only7 to bleach them and dissolve foreign materials such as silex, but

also thoroughly washes the goods. It is to be noted that the liquor in the tank is' boiled by heat externally applied by means of the steam jacket 50, so that the alkaline liquor4 is not diluted nor its levelraised, as would be the case if the steam were introduced directly into the tank to boil the liquor. The alkali boil is continued about five or six hours.- Then the steam is shut off land the alkaline liquor drained off. The materials are then thoroughly rinsedto free them of alkali and to cool them before any air or oxygen is permitted to come in contact with them. If the materials are exposed to the air while they are wet with the hot alkali, an oxycellulose will be formed which breaks down the fiber of the materials. After the alkaline liquor is drained off from the tank the heat of the body of the materials will prevent-the entrance of air into the tank while they are being rinsed. The rinsing operation also acts to remove all the color ing mattei' from the materials which has been made soluble by the successive and repeated action of the alkaline liquor and alkali fume. The rinsing water is intreduced through the perforated shaft 5 and overows through the overflow pipe G1. The rinsing is continued about an hour or two. `During the rinsing, the cage 3 is continuously rotated. The rags are so cleansed and cooled by the rinsing operation that no i fomentation takes place whenthe rags are discharged from the tank. The usual practice has heretofore been to blow off the rags hot after the alkali boil, and the alkaline liquor was left inthe rags to such anextent that a saponied oil was commonly employed in the washer to prevent foaming. This is obviated by rinsingand cooling the materials before they aredischarged.

A fterthe materials have been-rinsed, the rinsing water is all drained off through the pipe 6 0 and the door 25 opened and the closure 30 removed. IThe cage 3 is then iotated to discharge the materials through thev vopen ends of the cage and tankg.

The modified apparatus illustrated in ,'Figs. 4 and 5 is described asv follows: The

tank or vessel 101 is an air tight horizontally disposed cylindrical .druin' which is rotatably supported upon standards 102. Vith- 4in the vessel 101 is a cage or hollow drinn 103 which is rigidly secured in any convenient way to the tank 101. The cage y103 is packed with the materials to be treated. The cage 103 is provided with a rlarge nuniber of perforations 10av so that the liquor may freely pass through the walls of the cage. Between the tank 101 and the cage 103 are coils-of steam pipe 105 by means of which the liquor in the drum is boiled.

The cage 103 serves to keep the materials out of direct contact with the hot steam pipes so as not to scorch them. The steam enters through a steam supply pipe 100 and the condensed water runs off through the drip pipe 107. The pipes 100, 107 are provided with rotatable joints 108. The treating liquor and rinsing water may be run into the' tank through ra pipe 109 and the rinsing water is 'allowed to run off' through an overflow 'pipe 110. The pipes 109,l 110 are provided with rotatable joints 111 so that the tank may be rotated. The goods are packed in the cage 103 and are removed therefrom through manholes 112. The pipe 109 or 110 is preferably `connected with a is controlled by the pressure in the tank 101 Y and operates similarly to the reducing valve 52 shown in Fig. 1. The rinsing water coining into the tank'through the pipe connection 109 passes into a hollow perforated pipe 113 which is centrally located in the p cage 103 so that the goods may be thoroughly rinsed. A retaining or baffle plate 130, similar to the baffle plate 70 shown in Fig. 3, is provided for the purpose of carrying the goods around with the drum when it is lrotated.

The tank 101 is provided with a plurality of .air vents 120. Each vent consists of a of the levers 121.l The tank is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Figa. When a' lever 121 strikes the stopx122 it yopens its y affected by oxygen.

vent valve 120 and when a lever 121 strikes the stop 123 it closes its vent valve 120. Consequently, the vents are opened at the top of the tank and are closed at the betrI filled with the alkaline liquor. The tank is rotated and steam is let into the steam coils 105. The steam pipes 105 bring the liquor to a boil and the steam generated from the boiling alkaline liquor drives out the air. The stops 122 and 123, are, during thistime, held in the paths of thev ends of the levers 121 so as to keep the vent valves open at they top of the tank. After thegenerated steam has expelled the air from the tank the stop 122 is first removed and'then after the vents are all closed the stop 123 isremoved. The expulsion of the air from thetank is important in that the goods are not scorched or weakened by the oxidizing effect of air on the heated goods. While it is ofparticular importance to expel the air during the process of treating the goods in which the goods are lifted out of the treating liquor, it is also important and desirable to expel the air from the tank in Which the goods are treated With the boiling alkaline liquor in processes in Which the goods are not lifted out of the liquor. For example, the usual process in which the goods remain immersed in the liquor is improved by providing the boiling kier or tank with vents which per- 'niit the air to escape so that the goods at the surface of the liquor are not chemically The step above described of expelling air from a boiling kier is not solely applicable to the method of treating goods in which they are alternately subjected to the treating liquor and steam but may be employed in other processes as, for example, an improvement 1n the usual processl of alkali boiling paper stock. The

tank 101 is slowly rotated so that the liquor has a good chance to drain out of the goods which are lifted above the liquor level. rlhe steam or alkali fume penetrates the goods and, as above pointed out, assistsin the chemical reaction offdischarging the color and Whitening the goods. This chemical reaction is further accentuated by the drying effect of the steam or alkali fume in the area above the liquor. The steam is in contact with the heating coils 105 which aie above the liquor level` and these heating coils serve to dry the steam. The comparatively long period of time in which the goods are held in the steam space allows the vdried alkali .fumes to dry the goods and concentrate the alkalis held by them. rEhe goods vare. held in the steam space long enough to be thoroughly penetrated by the alkali fumes. The drying action of the heating coils and the dry alkali fumes above the liquor level also materially aids in bleaching the goods.

It will be noted that in the apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5, as Well as the appau ratus shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the steam which is used for boiling the liquor does not come into Contact with the liquor but is carried through heating coils or a steaim` jacket. In this Way the liquor level in the l tank vis not increased nor is the liquor Weakened, as is the case when boiling is carried out by introducing the steam directly into the tank. Moreover, in the apparatus shown in Figs. el and 5, the steam coils which are `above the liquor level, serve to superheat the steam, a thing impossible when the liquor is boiled by the direct introduction of steam into it. Heating the liquor by means of the steam jacket or steam coils is known to the trade as heating by radiation7 :is distinguished from heating by introducing the steam directly into the liquor which is to be boiled, Which is known inthe tradeas direct heating. The term radiation7 as used in the claims is to be understood as hav- .ing the usage common in the trade.

The materials containing indigo blue have been particularly troublesome for the paper used and to it is added about live per cent.

caustic soda, six per cent. soda ash and two per cent. green olive s oap. The use of this alkaline liquor according to the method of the present invention in which the materials are subjected successively and repeatedly to the action ofthe liquor and steam, will eliminatev indigo blue in the boil, and by 'the addition of a slight amount of chlorid of' lime to the rinsing Water the materials will come out White.

The usual practice heretofore has been to boil the materials such as the chopped rags in a closed vessel in which the materials are For the treat-v ill@ immersed in the boiling liquor substantially 1i i all of the time. ln the case of colored rags 'this treatment has had to be followed by a subsequent bleaching with chlorin in which the goods have been treated With chlorid of lime and have then been allowed to lie for .f

a long time in the drainers. This chlorin treatment, While necessary to Whiten the inatei'ials, has weakened the fiber, not to take into accountV the time and labor consumed.

One of the advantages of the present inwf While the method ot the'present invention has been specilically described and particularly with reference to the. treatment of processes and industries within the scope of the invention as setv forth in .the following claims.

I claim-'- 1. The method of treating librous materials which comprises, placing the materials in a closed pressure tight vessel containing an alkaline liquor, removing air or oxidizing gases from the vessel and successively and repeatedly immersing the materials ink and withdrawing them from vthe liquor while maintaining the different parts of the mate--v rials in approximately the same relative position. v

. 2. The method of treating fibrous materials which comprises, placing the materials in a closed vessel containing an alkaline liquor, boiling the liquor t0 generate steam,

and successively and repeatedly immersiug all of the materials in and withdrawing them from ,the liquor during the boil while maintaining the different parts of the materials in approximately the same relative position. v

B. The method of treating fibrous materials which comprises, placing the materials in a closed vessel containing an alkaline liquor, boiling the liquor to generate steam,

and successively and repeatedly immersing all of the materials in and withdrawing 'i them from the liquor during the boilwhile maintaining the diierent parts of the materials approximately in the same relative position and the concentration of the liquor ap'- proximately constant.. l

4. The method of treating iibrous lmaterials which comprises, subjecting the materials to the 'successive and repeated actions of a boiling lime liquor and eteam generated :from the liquor in a closed -vessel from which the air has been expelled by the steam, and completing the treatment after the eX- pulsion of air without the admission of ex ternal substances into the vessel.

5. The method of treating fibrous materials which comprises, lplacing the ma` terials in a closed vessel with an alkaline liquor, boiling the liquor by externally applied heat to expel the air from the vesselv and lill it with steam under pressure, and successively andre eatedly immersing the materials in and wit drawing them from the boiling liquor to alternately subject themvto the action of the liquor and the steam generated from the liquor while maintaining the different parts of the materials in the same relative position. 4

6. The method of treating fibrous materials which comprises, placing the materials in a closedvessel, boiling the materials, repeatedly immersing the materials in and holding them out of the liquor, and-maintaining sufficient liquor in the vessel during the boil so that in the movement of the materials each part will be drained of and wet with the liquor.

7, The method of treating fibrous mate- Arials which comprises, placing the materials ina closed vessel with an alkaline liquor, boiling the liquor by external heat to generate steam therefrom, repeatedly holding the materials in and retaining them out of the boiling liquor, and engagingthe height of the liquor throughout the boiling operation so that in themovementof the materials cessive and repeated action of a boiling lime liquor'and steam generated from the boiling liquorin a closed vessel from whichv the air has been expelled by the steam.

9. The method of washing and discharging coloring matter from fibrous materials which comprises placing the materials in a pressure tight' tank containing a lime liquor, boiling the liquor, subjecting all of the materials to the repeated action of the liquor andthel steam above the liquor during the boil, discharging the lime liquor and rinsing the 'materials to remove the lime liquor and coloring matter before admitting air into the tank andv cooling the materials before they are discharged from the tank.

10. The method of' treating brous materials which consists in putting them in a closed vessel with an alkaline liquor, in boiling the liquor by externally applied heat to expel the air from the vessel and fill it with f steam from the boiling liquor, and in. suc-` cessively and repeatedly immersin'g the ruaterials'in and withdrawing them 'from the boiling liquor to alternately subject them to the action of the liquor and the steam generated from the boiling liquor.

11. The method oftreating librous materials which comprises placing the materials in a closed-tank containing an alka-v line liquor, boiling the liquor, subjecting all of the materials repeatedly' to the separate action of the liquor and the steam generated from the liquor during the boil, discharging the alkaline liquor' and forcing a rinsing water through the materials from the 4center' tothe periphery thereof while rotating the materials 'to remove the alkaline liquork and cool the materials.

12. The method of Atreatingfibrous materials which consists in. 'treating the mavent subsequent fomentation and the formation of' oxycellulose.

13. The method of treating fibrous materials which consists inputting them in a closed vessel together with an alkaline liquor in boiling the liquor by externalheat to generate alkaline fumes and expel the airfrom the vessel, and in subjecting the materials to the liquor and alkaline fumes in the absence of air.

14. The method of' treating fibrous materials which consists in putting them` in a closed vessel together with an alkaline liquor, in heating the liquor' in the vessel by adiation to generate steam and fill the vessel with steam so that the liquor is not weakened and the steam is generated from the alkaline liquor and in maintaining the materials out of' contact with the heat radiating surfaces.

15. The method of treating fibrous materials which consists in boiling the materials in a tank and subjecting all parts of the materials during the boil to the separate successive and repeated actions of an alkaline liquor and steam generated from the alkaline liquor, and drying the materials in the steam.

1G. rThe method of treating fibrous materials which consists in boiling the materials in a tank and subjecting all of them to the separate successive and repeated action during the boil of a boiling alkaline liquor' and dried fumes which have been generated from the boiling liquor.

17. The method of treating fibrous materials which comprises, placing the materials in a foraminated receptacle within a pressure tight tank partially iilled with an alkaline liquor, by heating the tank walls, maintaining a space between the foraminated vessel and the tank to hold the'materials away from the tank walls boiling the liquor and rotating the materials to successively and repeatedly immerse them in and withdraw them from the liquor.

18. The method of treating fibrous materials which comprises placing the materials in a vessel, adding an alkali liquor which will stand at about one half the height of the interior of the vessel heating thev liquid area by radiation to generate steam,

successively and repeatedly carrying `the goods during the boil from the steam area to the liquid area and back again, land heating the steam area by fadiation to heat the generated steam and dry the materials 1f). The method of' treating fibrous materials which comprises, placing the materials in a receptacle within `a closed tank containing an alkaline liquor, and slowly moving the receptaclek to successively and repeatedly wet the materials with and drain them of' the liquor and prevent the receptacle from touching the vessel to reserve a space for the collection of foreign substances washed from the materials.

20. The method of treating fibrous materials which consists in placing the materials in a closed vessel containing an alkaline liquor', boiling the liquor to generate steam, successively and repeatedly immersing the materials in and withdrawing them from the liquor during the boil, and gaging the rate of movement of the materials so that they will be immersed in or withdrawn fromthe liquor not less than one minute each.

Q1. The method of treating fibrous materials which comprises, placing the materials in a closed vessel containing an alkaline liquor, boiling the liquor to generate alkali fumes, uniformly heating the surface of the vessel successively ,and repeatedly immersing the materials in and withdrawing them from the liquor, and gaging the movement of the materials so that they will remain out of the liquor for a sufficient period to drain and be penetrated and dried by the fumes. l

22. The method of treating fibrous materials which comprises placing the materials in a pressure tight tank with an alkaline liquor, heating the liquor by radiation of a high pressure steam to generate an alkali fume in the tank, venting the tank until an appreciable steam pressure is formed therein to drive ofi' air and gases, closing the vents and continuing the high pressure steam heating until the pressure of 'not less than twenty five pounds per square inch is generated in the tank, and then throttling the heating steam to maintain asubstantial uniform pressure in the tank.

' EUGENE D. JEFFERSON. /Vitnesses:

GEORGE E. STIBBINS, Bassin J. Six/HTH..4

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 1,192,903

It is hereby certified 'that n Letters Pat-ent N o. 1,192,903, granted August 1,

1916, upon the application of Eugene D. Jefferson, of Boston, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Methods of Treating Fibrous Materials, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 8, after the Word discharging insert the Words the color; page. 5, line 79, claim 7, for the Word engaging read gagtng; and that the said Lettersk Patent should be read with` these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 24th day4 of October, A.D., 1916.

F. W. H, CLAY, .Acting Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL] 

